Germy things you touch everyday!
A quick “Eeewww! Don’t touch that!” exclamation to one of my kids got me thinking about germs and brought about a kid level discussion about the germy things you touch every day. After that kid level discussion I got thinking more and more on the adult level about the germy things you touch every day. There are quite a lot of them and if you think too hard about them all, you just might start taking hand sanitizer everywhere you go.
We have always been warned of the germs on things like drinking fountains and public restroom door handles, but what about all of the other nasty germy things you touch every day. Now, I’m not saying that those things aren’t germy. In fact, research has shown that drinking fountains contain twice as many germs as a toilet seat – eeeeewww! But there are so many more things that are germy and I think most of us don’t think of them that way at all.
Money
Money is something most of us handle every day and we probably don’t think twice about it usually. It is definitely one of the worst germy things you touch every day. One study found a quarter had five times more germs than a toilet seat! Yuck!
Phones
It doesn’t matter if we are talking about cell phones, home phones or public phones – all of them are covered with germs. Germy things you touch every day – cell phone for sure! Think of all the places you set it down, all the times you touch it while doing something else, all the germs that can be transferred to it. Nasty!
Card swipe machines
You’ve shopped and shopped and now you are checking out. How many other people have touched those same buttons in the last hour? Or even last half hour? Ick! Lots of germs there! It is enough to make you want to carry a can of Lysol spray with you right?
Shopping carts
Another shopping germ fest! We often think about the handle having germs and we probably all use the store provided disinfectant wipes to wipe off the handle. But there is more, how about the other germs? How about the germs on the seat where children and pets (yup – I know – gag) have been? Did you just set your produce where someone sat with a dirty diaper just a hour ago? Makes you want to wipe off a few more areas with that disinfectant wipe now right?
Computer keyboards
Even if you are the only one who uses your keyboard, I am sure you leave lots of germs there as you go about your day. Chances are that your connection to the internet is also one of those germy things you touch every day.
Can of soda
I’m guilty of this one and now I say never again! Many of us drink soda right from the can without thinking twice about where that can has been and what has touched it. From dirt to animals to chemicals, there is so much yuck on these cans. Not only are they germy things you touch every day, you put your mouth on them. Ick!
There are so many more germy things you touch every day. Stay tuned tomorrow when we look at even more germy bad habits!
Spring is here – first day of spring!
Hooray – we did it! We survived winter and made it to spring! Are you as glad as I am that today is the first day of spring? After winter and the cold, dreary days there is just something magical about the idea that spring is finally here. (I’m sure some areas of the country are looking out their windows and thinking “Spring? Really?” So sorry but it is spring weather here today!) Don’t get me wrong, I like winter. I like so many of the fun things about winter – sledding, snowmen, hot chocolate, holidays and more. But after the fun things are done, winter is just cold and dreary. The first day of spring marks an end to the cold and dreary, even if it just a mental end not a real weather end.
The first day of spring is a celebration of so many things! If the weather is good, it means even more! Are you glad it is the first day of spring for a few particular reasons? I am – there are so many reasons I am glad it is spring!
Open windows
Spring brings warmer weather and the first day of spring seems to be a great time to start opening windows and letting some of that warmer weather into the house. Something about opening the windows just feels great.
No more parkas
Winter weather and activities bring SO MUCH extra clothing and shoes. There is something great about the first day of spring and the time when you get to take all the winter gear, wash it up and put it away. My mud room just got a whole lot less cluttered.
Easter
The first day of spring seems to usher in great spring holidays like Easter. You know what Easter brings? Cadbury Eggs, oh my, that is a wonderful part of spring.
Lighter colors
There is something about the first day of spring that makes me feel so very happy. Spring brings happy, bright and light colors back into clothing, décor and even makeup. Bright and light shirts and nail polish are fun ways to celebrate the arrival of spring.
Green returns
Something about the dead and dry winter landscape makes me feel sort of sad all winter. It is so nice when spring arrives and the green comes back. Green grass, green plants, budding trees and flowers poking up through the soil are very welcome signs of spring.
Baby animals
I don’t have much of a desire to own baby animals but it is sure nice to see them out and in other people’s yards. Baby animals are cute and seem to signal the arrival of newness and happiness. They are a great part of spring.
Spring cleaning
Yep, you heard me right. I get excited about the cleaning out and cleaning up that happens each spring. Our houses, garages and yards seem to get so cluttered and jumbled during the winter. The first day of spring is a great time to start planning that spring cleaning.
Do you have a favorite reason for loving the first day of spring? Tell us about it. We love to hear from you!
More fun uses for Sharpie markers!
Yesterday we talked about how we all probably have at least one Sharpie marker in our homes, maybe more. I bet many of us haven’t thought about all of the different and fun uses for them. There are lots of colors, sizes and types of Sharpies and an equally long list of cool things to do with them. You can use a Sharpie marker for a lot of things – some normal things and some surprising things. We looked at a few of the practical and basic things to do with a Sharpie marker yesterday. There are so many more things you can do with Sharpie markers.
Decorate plastic Easter eggs
Easter is almost here – you can use Sharpie markers dress up the plastic eggs and add a little style to your egg hunt. Write names or other labeling designs on the eggs and assign each child to find only his or her eggs. It is a great way to make the egg hunt more fair and fun for everyone.
Draw a design on jeans
Feel like your jeans are all boring? Draw designs on them with Sharpie markers and they will be colorful, unique and definitely not boring. Don’t want to draw on your good jeans? Take a trip to the second hand store and grab a pair to design.
Draw a design on shoes
Have boring canvas shoes? How about ho-hum sneakers for PE? Do your flip-slops lack spunk? Just like the jeans, you can Draw designs on them with Sharpie markers and they will be colorful, unique and definitely not boring. You can also grab these footwear items at the second hand store and give new life to old shoes.
Design a tie for Dad
Give dad a designer tie for Father’s Day this year, a tie designed by you. Get a light colored plain tie and create a unique and fun design on it with Sharpie markers.
Decorate a picture frame
Take a boring and plain picture frame from the dollar store or second hand store and use Sharpie markers to make it something special. Draw designs and use colors to match any décor.
Decorate a coffee mug
Give a coffee mug and make it special. Take a plain and inexpensive mug and use Sharpie markers to make it colorful and sentimental. Don’t forget to write a note to a parent, coach, friend or teacher on the mug with Sharpie markers.
Decorate old furniture
Give new life to old, plain or cheap furniture by using Sharpie markers. Draw designs and get creative, it is a great way to revive something old.
Create a stained glass window
Draw a design on a window with Sharpie markers. It will let the light in and provide privacy while looking a bit like stained glass.
Decorate sports balls
Tired of getting your balls mixed up at practice? Give the ball a facelift with Sharpie markers and you’ll always be able to find it.
Decorate a cell phone case
Tired of your boring old cell phone case? Don’t buy a new one; give your old one a make-over with Sharpie markers. You will save money and have a unique phone case.
Have more ideas? Share them with us – we love to hear from you!
What can you do with a Sharpie marker?
We all probably have at least one Sharpie marker in our homes, maybe more, and I bet many of us haven’t thought about all of the different and fun uses for them. We all probably have one or two uses for a Sharpie and that’s about it. We have lots of colors, sizes and types in my house. In my house we actually use a Sharpie for a lot of things – some normal things and some surprising things. Because my kids are swimmers, we now think first of swimming when we see a v. At competitions, the swimmers write their event information on their arms or legs with a Sharpie marker because it doesn’t wear off. We also use a Sharpie marker for many of the reason listed below.
Permanent marks
This is probably the most common use for a Sharpie marker. If you want to mark or label something and have it be permanent, you grab a Sharpie marker. Whether it is labeling clothes, toys, jackets, books, the permanent marking uses for a Sharpie marker are endless.
Wood scratches
This is one of my favorite uses for a Sharpie marker. Wood furniture, floors and other items can get small scratches and nicks very easily. Some people may convince you that you need to refinish or buy expensive products. No way! In most cases you can find a matching Sharpie and cover the scratch quickly, easily and cheaply. Be sure to test the Sharpie in a hidden area of the wood before you use it.
Shoe scuffs
This use for a Sharpie marker is much like using one on wood. When shoes get scuffs that shoe polish won’t cover grab a Sharpie. You can even match colored shoes with a Sharpie marker. It is a great way to extend the life of a favorite pair of shoes. Be sure to test the Sharpie in a hidden area on the shoe before you use it.
Leather scuffs
Just like the other kinds of scratches and scuffs, a Sharpie marker can be used on leather that is scuffed or scratched. We have fixed coats and couches with a Sharpie marker. Be sure to test the Sharpie marker in a hidden area of the leather before you use it.
Easter eggs
This is one of the most surprising uses for a Sharpie marker but I love it! There are food grade Sharpies that are made for using on items you will eat. We picked some up a couple of years ago and use them every year to color Easter eggs. This is such a fun way to decorate the eggs and far less messy than cups of colored egg dye.
Athletes
Like I mentioned before our kids who are swimmers use a Sharpie marker to keep track of events at swim meets. Lots of other types of athletes do the same thing. There are many ways as athlete will use a Sharpie marker.
There are so many more fun uses for a Sharpie marker – we’ll talk about a few more tomorrow. Have a favorite use for a Sharpie? Let us know – we love to hear from you!
Can preparing your tax return be easy?
Preparing your own income tax returns doesn’t have to be a nightmare anymore. Online income tax preparation services like H&R Block, Tax Act, and TurboTax can make the process quite painless. Don’t believe it? Follow these simple steps and see for yourself!
Open an account at either H&R Block, Tax Act, or TurboTax. Each service offers editions that are priced according to the complexity of your return, so check them carefully to find the one that will do what you need for the lowest price. Even though you have to choose one of the editions to open your online account, you won’t have to pay anything until you’re ready to either file your return electronically or prepare the final print-out.
Log into your account and make sure that all of your personal information is entered and ready to go. If you filed a return through that service last year, simply follow the instructions to import the required information into this year’s return. If this is the first time you’ve used an online tax preparation service, just follow the prompts to manually enter the necessary information from your hard copies of last year’s income tax forms.
Entering your expenses into your online tax return is fast and easy. Just select the category of expense you want to enter, tally the numbers, and move on to the next category. If you use money management software like Quicken, you can make the process even easier by simply uploading your expense data once you’ve made the final entries for the year.
You should have the expense side of your income tax return nearly finished when the income statements start to roll in. Do yourself a favor and enter them into your online return immediately, then file them away for good. By the time you enter your last income statement, your tax return will be nearly complete and you can start thinking about how you’re going to spend that tax refund!
Once all of your income and expense statements have been entered, the online tax preparation services will conduct a free automated review. This review will check for errors and for any possible deductions you may have missed. If all goes well, your online federal tax return will be ready to file.
For an additional fee, the services will import your federal tax data into a state tax return and guide you through a short process to complete it. The state tax return will then be automatically reviewed and verified.
At this point, you have the option of printing out drafts of your returns and taking them to a human income tax consultant. The consultant can either mark up your forms for you to change online, or you can give him or her your online account information to have it done for you.
When you’re ready to file your income tax returns, you can choose to file them electronically (e-file) or print them out and mail them through the post office. You’ll have to pay the online tax preparation service fee at this time.
If you file electronically, you’ll be asked to check back in a few days to verify that your returns were accepted by their respective agencies.
That’s it! You’re done for another year. Your tax returns will remain available in your account so that you can print additional copies if you need them. You’ll also be able to import the data into next year’s return. The key to improving your tax preparation experience is to work on your returns gradually as information becomes available. Online income tax preparation services like H&R Block, Tax Act, and TurboTax help you to do that by allowing you to make entries that are days and weeks apart without losing any continuity. Your information will always be exactly how you left it the last time you logged in. You’ll be able to work with your tax documents in easy-to-manage bundles instead of having to wade through an intimidating pile. Do yourself a favor and take your income tax preparation online. The nightmare is over!
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What’s for dinner? St. Patrick’s Day Recipes!
Tomorrow is another holiday and you know what that means for my house – a St. Patrick’s Day celebration! We love celebrating holidays and try to do something fun for each one. We’ve done all sorts of crazy things for St. Patrick’s Day before but one of the traditions is the food. We have the same thing for dinner every year – corned beef and cabbage. My kids actually love it and request it every year at St. Patrick’s Day because it is usually the only time I make it.
We usually have the corned beef and cabbage with Irish soda bread. It is a tasty and easy bread. For dessert we usually do something simple and add green to is somehow. Cookies, cake or brownies with green frosting are always a fun and easy idea. Green mint ice cream or green grasshopper pie are also super yummy and fun ideas for a St. Patrick’s Day dessert.
Here are the St. Patrick’s Day recipes I use to make the corned beef and cabbage and the Irish soda bread. Try them tomorrow and let us know how you like them!
Corned Beef and Cabbage – Makes 5 Servings
Ingredients:
3 pounds corned beef brisket with spice packet
10 small red potatoes
5 carrots, peeled and cut into 3-inch pieces
1 large head cabbage, cut into small wedges
Directions:
1. Place the corned beef in large pot or Dutch oven and cover with water. Add the spice packet that came with the corned beef. Cover the pot and bring it to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer for approximately 50 minutes per pound or until tender.
2. Add whole potatoes and carrots, and cook until the vegetables are almost tender. Add cabbage and cook for 15 more minutes. Remove the meat and let set for 15 minutes.
3. Place the vegetables in a bowl and cover. Add as much broth (cooking liquid that was in the Dutch oven or large pot) as you want. Slice the meat across the grain.
Easy Irish Soda Bread
Ingredients:
4 cups all-purpose flour
4 tablespoons white sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup margarine, softened
1 cup buttermilk
1 egg
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup buttermilk
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease a large cookie sheet.
- In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and margarine. Stir in 1 cup of the buttermilk and egg. Dump the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead slightly. Form the dough into a round shape and place it on the greased cookie sheet. In a small bowl, combine the melted butter with 1/4 cup buttermilk then brush loaf with this mixture. Use a sharp knife to cut an X into the top of the loaf.
- Bake in a preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean, about 45 to 50 minutes. Start to check after 30 minutes. You may want to continue to brush the loaf with the butter mixture while it bakes.
How do you get ink stains out of clothing?
The dryer signals that familiar buzz, the clothes are dry. You grab the laundry basket and head to the dryer to take the laundry out. As you begin to take the laundry out of the dryer, you notice something wrong, something that shouldn’t be there. Then you see it again and again. Your heart races as you begin to realize you are seeing it everywhere, on piece of laundry after piece of laundry. There is ink everywhere, a pen has gone through the laundry. Your heart sinks and you wonder how much of the laundry is ruined, or how much of the laundry can be saved. How do you get ink stains out of clothing?
I’m sure there are many of you who have had a moment like this. I have had a couple of moments like this, in fact I am pretty sure I wrote that first paragraph straight from recent memory. No matter how we try, no matter how much we check the pockets of those jeans and shake out all of those pairs of pants, the dreaded ink pen still makes its way into the washer and dryer. If you are like me, you never catch it until you are pulling the laundry out of the dryer. Then you ask yourself, or anyone who will listen, “How do you get ink stains out of clothing?”
There are quite a few answers to the question, “How do you get ink stains out of clothing?” There are all of the old wives tales that we’ve all heard and even a few new ones. Two super important points, remember to test the fabric for colorfastness and dab at the ink stain, never rub. Here are just a few of the ways to get ink stains out of clothing:
Laundry soap
This old standby is a favorite for many people who are trying to get out ink stains. Dab at the stain using a small amount of laundry soap. This is the ink stain removal method I have personally had little success with but there are others who really like it.
Hair spray
Another favorite for people trying to get ink stains out of clothing is hairspray. Spray hairspray onto the stain and let it dry before putting in the washing machine. The chemicals in the spray will help to break down the ink, which will make it easier to dissolve in the wash.
Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol is another solution to try to get ink stains out of clothing. Dab a small amount of rubbing alcohol onto the ink stain. Start blotting the stain with a clean cloth and continue until no ink stain remains. Rinse the clothing thoroughly when you are done.
Hand sanitizer
This ink stain remedy works just like rubbing alcohol because it contains alcohol. Follow the same steps as you would with rubbing alcohol.
Nail polish remover
This ink stain remedy makes me a little nervous. I would try it only on strong fabrics, and as a last resort. Remember to test it on an inconspicuous part of the fabric.
Have another tip to get ink stains out of clothing? Let us know – we love to hear from you!
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Other uses for nail polish!
Have a teenage girl in your house? I do and that means we have an absolute ton of nail polish here. There are all kinds of colors, all kinds of textures, all kinds of finishes. There are base coats, top coats, crackle coats, magnetic coats, glitter coats, gel coats, and so many more! There is so much nail polish in my house that I’m sure I have lost count on the number of bottles we own. There are way too many to count. Thinking about all of this nail polish led me to wonder what other uses for nail polish are out there.
There are actually lots of other uses for nail polish. There are a few I have heard of before and some that I learned about after asking a few friends. I think most of them are really great ideas.
Stop runs in tights
I think this is probably the most popular of the other uses for nail polish. We probably all learned this tip from our mothers or grandmothers. Apply a little bit of nail polish to the end of a run in tights or pantyhose and the run will stop and not pull apart any further.
Thread needle
Have a piece of thread that you just can’t get through the needle? Use a tiny bit of nail polish on the end of the thread and it will go right through the needle. This is a useful one of the other uses for nail polish.
Paint keys
This is a fun and useful of the other uses for nail polish. Have trouble telling your keys apart on your key chain? Paint the ends with different colors of nail polish and you will be able to tell them apart with ease.
Coat costume jewelry
This one of the other uses for nail polish was brand new to me when I started asking for ideas. Cute, cheap costume jewelry is popular now, and coating it with a little clear nail polish will help the finish stay looking good longer. Great idea!
Paint jewelry
Want to change the color of a piece of costume jewelry? Use nail polish and change it up! This is such a fun idea.
Paint bobby pins
Just like the costume jewelry, bobby pins can be painted. Don’t pay too much for colored bobby pins to match outfits. Take some nail polish and make your own colored bobby pins. This is such a fun idea – I love these other uses for nail polish!
Color on shoe soles
Give your high heeled shoes a designer look by painting their soles. A popular trend in designer shoes is to have bright colored soles. Grab some red nail polish and give your bargain heels a designer feel!
Cover scuffs on shoes
This idea is just genius. Have cute colored shoes with scuffs or chips in the finish? Use a matching nail polish to cover the scuff or chip. This is a money saver and a great one of the other uses for nail polish.
Keep laces and rope from fraying
We’ve all tried burning the end of laces and ropes to keep them from fraying and sometimes that just doesn’t work. Take some clear nail polish and apply it to the ends of the laces or ropes. This will help keep them from fraying. Another great idea!
Do you have other uses for nail polish? Let us know about them – we love to hear from you!
National Johnny Appleseed Day! Apple recipes!
If you read this blog with any kind of regularity you know that I love celebrating holidays. I love all of the big and traditional holidays but I also like to do random things for some of the more small and random holidays. Sometimes in my house we celebrate crazy national days and days dedicated to food seem to be favorites. Today is one of those days. Did you know that today, March 11th, is National Johnny Appleseed Day?
National Johnny Appleseed Day is a day to honor John Chapman, known now as Johnny Appleseed. “John Chapman (September 26, 1774 – March 18, 1845) was an American pioneer nurseryman who introduced apple trees to large parts of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, including the northern counties of present day West Virginia.” (from Wikipedia) While the day is designated to honor the man who made apple trees a common part of the American landscape, the day lends itself to being all about apples. My family loves apples, they are one of our favorite fruits. It is super easy to include apples in the meals we have today. My kid love it!
Want to celebrate National Johnny Appleseed Day with us this year? If you do, here are a couple of our favorite apple recipes.
Apple Crisp
Everyone loves warm apple crisp and vanilla ice cream. It is the perfect desert for National Johnny Appleseed Day.
6 to 8 apples, depending on size
3/4 c. sugar
1 1/2 Tbl. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp cinnamon
Topping:
3/4 c. flour
3/4 c. quick oats
3/4 c. brown sugar
1/4 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 c. melted butter
1 c. chopped nuts
Slice and peel apples (I use my apple peeler/corer/slicer to make it really easy) and mix with sugar, flour, salt, and cinnamon. Put in 9×13 baking dish. Mix topping ingredients and sprinkle over the apples to cover. Bake the apple crisp at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes, or until apples are soft.
Apple Pie Bars
These apple pie bars are great to make with canned apple pie filling. Easy and yummy!
Crust:
3/4 c. butter, softened
6 Tbl. sugar
1 1/2 c. all purpose flour
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
Topping:
1 1/2 c. quick oats
1 c. all purpose flour
3/4 c. light brown sugar
1/2 tsp plus 1/8 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 c. cold butter, cut into small cubes
Crust: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a 13×9.5 jelly roll pan with foil or parchment paper. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about two minutes. At low speed, beat in the flour, spices, and salt until a soft dough forms. Press the dough over the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake in the center of oven for about 15 minutes or until golden and set. Set on wire rack to cool slightly.
Topping: In a large bowl, mix the oats and the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Using your fingers or a pastry tool, put the butter cubes into the oat mixture and crumble together until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. Press the mixture into clumps.
Pour the can or bottle of apple pie filling on top and spread evenly over the crust. Scatter the crumb topping on top, pressing it lightly into the mixture. Bake for 30 minutes or until the topping begins to look slightly crispy on top. Let cool and enjoy!
These are two of my family’s favorite recipes to make on National Johnny Appleseed Day. Do you have a favorite apple recipe to share? Let us know about it, we love to hear from you!
Get your yard ready for spring! – Part 2
Yesterday I started telling you about how getting my yard ready for spring always seems like a HUGE task. It seems like it will be impossible to get done. Then I try to look at it differently. Getting your yard ready for spring seems much less complicated if you break it into smaller pieces. Looking at the parts individually make the big task seem doable and less daunting. I talked about some of the things I do to get the actual yard ready. I also talked about trees, bushes and plants. After you talk about and take care of the trees, bushes and plants, there is still so much to do. Like I said yesterday, I’ve made myself a list and it really helps. Here are the some more items on my get your yard ready for spring list:
Unwrap trees and plants
Wrapping trees and plants was a task that I overlooked for years. A tour of a local nursery opened my eyes to wrapping trees and plants. Not all trees and plants need to be wrapped but there are many that will survive cold winter much more easily if they are wrapped. Once the dangers of snow and deep freezing are over, you can go outside and unwrap your trees and plants.
Rake flower beds
Bark and other flower bed coverings can get compacted and settle over the winter. A quick raking will help your flower beds look better and help you identify areas that may need more covering added.
Prepare sprinkler systems
If you have a sprinkler system this is one thing you can do to get your yard ready for spring. Locate and inspect your above ground sprinkler system parts. Many times sprinkler heads get covered in mud and muck during the winter. Some parts of systems get broken from snow, ice, shoveling or snow blowers. Inspecting, cleaning and prepping now will save time later when you are ready to begin using your sprinkler system.
Uncover water faucets
This is a quick and easy item to check off your get your yard ready for spring list. Remember those outdoor faucet covers you put on last fall? Hopefully they did their job and guarded against frozen pipes. Take them off and inspect your outdoor faucets for damage. You’ll be ready to go when you need to use your faucets and hoses.
Check sprinklers and hoses
Did you leave any sprinklers or hoses outside this winter? It is really quite easy to forget about them and have ruined sprinklers and hoses in the spring. Check for items like this that were left outside. If you find any, check them for damage and repair or replace if needed.
Inspect toys and play things
If you have outdoor play equipment you can get your yard ready for spring by making sure these are in good repair. As soon as they can, kids are going to want to get outside and play. Winter weather can cause damage and dangerous situations on outdoor play equipment. Find it and fix it as soon as possible.
Inspect sidewalks and decks
Now is a great time to give your sidewalks, decks, patios, retaining walls, and other outdoor structures a quick inspection. Identifying problems now will help you set a plan to fix them. You will love already having your yard ready for spring once it is warmer and ready to be enjoyed.
These are just a few more of the many things you can do now to get your yard ready for spring. Have more ideas? Let us know – we love to hear from you!
Get your yard ready for spring!
I love it when it starts to feel like spring outside. I love the greening grass, the warming temperatures, the buds on the trees, the flowers popping up from the dirt and so much more. I love being outside and enjoying the fun almost spring weather and surroundings. But when I am outside in my yard I realize there is something I don’t like about spring. When I look around my yard I tell myself “Get your yard ready for spring.” Ugh! That’s no fun. Fun or not, it has to happen.
Getting your yard ready for spring always seems like a HUGE task before I start. I dread it because it just doesn’t sound fun. Like so many other things, getting your yard ready for spring seems much less complicated if you break it into smaller pieces. Looking at the parts individually make the big task seem doable and less daunting. I’ve made myself a list and it really helps. Here are the items on my get your yard ready for spring list.
Trim trees
I actually like doing this once I start. Spring is a great time to trim and prune many trees. A simple internet search will yield many resources for instruction and tips on your kinds of trees. I think of it like giving a tree a haircut – go slow and don’t take off too much at first. You can trim the tree back further but you can’t reattach cut too short limbs and branches.
Trim plants and bushes
This is a lot like trimming the trees. Spring is usually a good choice for trimming. Another simple internet search or two and you’ll have lots of information on your specific plants. Many plants are much happier all season if they were trimmed the right way in the early spring.
Remove debris
Winter seems to be great at blowing debris into your yard and flower beds. A quick walk through the yard with a trash bag will help you get the trash, leaves and other debris out of the yard.
Clean out flower beds and pots
I’m always hesitant to do this job. Cleaning out the dead growth and the overgrown plants is a very important part of getting your yard ready for spring, especially if you didn’t get to it before winter. Make sure you know enough about your plants. Are they annuals or perennials? Don’t pull out the plants that are sure to come back in the spring. If you have plants you want to split or divide do another quick internet search. Many plants prefer to be split in the spring.
Rake the grass
I think this is one step in getting your yard ready for spring that is often overlooked. Don’t skip it! All winter the grass has gotten matted, muddy and mashed. The grass may have even served as a home for rodents and other icky wildlife. Yikes! Your grass needs help! Rake the yard deeply and get it cleaned out and loosened. It will be happier in the spring and summer if you rake it very thoroughly when you are getting your yard ready for spring.
This is only part of what needs to be done outside to get your yard ready for spring. Watch tomorrow for part two of my tips! Have tips to share? Let us know! We love hearing from you!
Getting back to sleep?
For the past couple of days we have been talking about that growing group of Americans; the people who are getting too little sleep. Is that you? Do you nod off while reading or watching TV? Do you ever feel like someone sucked the energy right out of you? Do you find it hard to concentrate or be productive? Do you wake up at night and have trouble getting back to sleep? I’m in that group and I am trying to do something about it.
How do you know if you actually fit into that growing group of people who are getting too little sleep? Studies are continually changing recommended sleep times; in fact, another change to recommended sleep times was announced just recently. Recommended sleep times vary with your age. The National Sleep Foundation has released these guidelines: for younger adults, ages 18-25, the sleep range is now 7-9 hours. For adults, ages 26-64, the sleep range remains 7-9 hours. For older adults, ages 65+, the sleep range is 7-8 hours. Remember these are general guidelines and some people will need more sleep. Sound familiar? You need to get better sleep!
One big part of getting better sleep is being able to sleep all night. Most people don’t have a problem falling asleep; they have a problem staying asleep. It is actually pretty normal to wake briefly during the night. Most people do this and don’t even remember it. If you’re waking up during the night and having trouble getting back to sleep, it creates a problem. When that happens try the following tips.
Relax
If you are having a hard time getting back to sleep, try a relaxation technique. You can do this without even getting out of bed. Try visualization or taking deep breaths. Even if you aren’t getting back to sleep right away the relaxation will help rest your body. Try not to stress over the fact that you’re awake and not getting back to sleep. That stress encourages your body to stay awake. Try getting back to sleep by staying in a relaxed position and continuing to prepare your body for sleep.
Don’t think too hard
If you wake up during the night and you are feeling worried or anxious about something, try to keep yourself from worrying about it until the next day. Putting off worrying and over thinking things will help aid you in getting back to sleep. Remind yourself when you are rested it will be easier to resolve. If a great idea is keeping you awake, make a note of it on paper. Go back to sleep and know you’ll be much more productive and handle it after a good night’s rest.
Quiet activity
If you’ve been working on getting back to sleep for more than 15 minutes, it might be time to get out of bed. Try a non-stimulating activity, like reading a book. Keep the lights dim and avoid screens of any kind. Things like computers, TV, cell phones, iPads will produce enough light to wake you up. Getting back to sleep will be easier if you remain quiet and calm.
Do you have more tips for getting back to sleep if you wake up in the night? Share them with us. We love to hear from you.